Exercises With Foam Roller

Marathon Prep: Foam Roller Exercises

When you're wrapped up in marathon training, foam rolling is vital. This self-massaging technique loosens stiff muscles and can keep fascia (connective tissue in muscles) loose. Foam rolling, along with our marathon stretching series, can help prevent injury, keeping you healthy and strong leading up to race day. This preventive routine takes only 10-15 minutes — you could do it every day if you like but should aim to roll at least once or twice a week. Your body will thank you. If you're training for a marathon, don't forget to check out our 18-week training plan!

Photos: POPSUGAR Studios

IT Band

What’s Your Reaction?Thanks for your reactionDon’t forget to share this with your friends!000000

Lying on your side, similar to a side plank position, place the roller on the outside of your thigh just below your hip.

Place your top arm on your hip, and using your top leg for stability, roll the length of your thigh, stopping just above the knee. Go slowly, and do not roll over the knee joint. Keep your bottom leg lifted, or lower it down to the floor if you can. Chances are high that this move will be painful, which is a sign that you really need to do this.

If you find an especially tender point, try rolling forward and back to release this spot.

Roll for 30-60 seconds, then switch sides.

Tip: The IT band is a thick strand of fascia that runs the length of the thigh; when it gets tight, it can pull the knee out of alignment, causing pain and inflammation in the joint.

1 / 7

Glutes

What’s Your Reaction?Thanks for your reactionDon’t forget to share this with your friends!000000

Lying on the floor, lift your legs and place the roller at the back of your pelvis (aka sacrum).

Gripping the end of the roller for stability, slowly twist your lower body to the left, then to the right, to massage your glutes. Continue for 30 to 60 seconds.

Adjust your body's position until you find the "sweet spot" or tight spot. Direct pressure will help to release knots.

Tip: Tight glutes can pull on the IT band and adversely affect the alignment of the hips and knees.

2 / 7

Piriformis

What’s Your Reaction?Thanks for your reactionDon’t forget to share this with your friends!000000

Sitting on the floor, place the roller in the middle of your glutes.

Using a short and steady roll, move the roller back and forth for 30 to 60 seconds.

To reach the entire muscle, adjust your position from side to side. Apply active release on specific tight spots by holding still for five seconds.

Tip: The piriformis muscle, found under the glute max, runs laterally from the sacrum (back of the pelvis) to the outside of the upper thigh. It is small but can get really tight.

3 / 7

Quads

What’s Your Reaction?Thanks for your reactionDon’t forget to share this with your friends!000000

Resting on your stomach, place the roller under the front of your thighs, lifting yourself into a basic plank position on your elbows.

Pull with your arms to roll up and down the length of the quad. Do not roll over your knee joint.

Continue this movement for 30-60 seconds.

4 / 7

Calves

What’s Your Reaction?Thanks for your reactionDon’t forget to share this with your friends!000000

Sit on the floor with your left ankle crossed over your right, and place the roller under your right calf.

Lift your pelvis off the ground so your weight is supported by your hands and the roller.

Roll the length of your calf, from the back of your knee to the Achilles tendon. Do roll the inside and the outside of the muscle as well.

Repeat for 30 to 60 seconds, then switch legs.

Tip: Pay special attention to tight spots, allowing the tension to sink into the roller.

6 / 7

Shins

What’s Your Reaction?Thanks for your reactionDon’t forget to share this with your friends!000000